Thomas P. McCool, Ed.D., The Eden Family of Services, President and CEO - Since April 2005 Dr. McCool has been the President/CEO of The Eden Family of Services. Previously he was the Vice President of Development and Public Policy for the Devereux Foundation. Dr. McCool is a Founding Member of the National Association of Residential Providers for Adults with Autism as well as the National Commission on Accreditation of Special Education Services. He served as a gubernatorial appointee to the California Interagency Coordinating Council, and was a member of the California Developmental Disabilities Council. He also was a member of the MIND Institute Advisory Board at the U.C. Davis Medical Center. .

Phil Blevins, RN, LCS, Carolina Autism, Executive Director - Phil has worked with children and adults with autism for over 20 years. He served as Direct Care Provider, Consultant, Trainer and Administrator for the South Carolina state autism program. Phil later founded the non-profit agencies: Carolina Autism Supported Living Services and Carolina Autism Applied Behavioral Services. He is a founding member and advocate for the National Association of Residential Providers for Adults with Autism (NARPAA). Most recently Phil has been working to establish an inclusive Autism Charter School in Charleston, SC. He has two nephews with autism.

Janice Cline, M.S., CCC-SLP, Bittersweet, Inc. (dba: Bittersweet Farms), Director of Clinical Services - Janice Cline is the Director of Clinical Services at Bittersweet Farms, a residential and vocational facility for adults with autism located in Northwest Ohio. Mrs. Cline has served at Bittersweet Farms since 1991. She has served as the Speech and Language Pathologist assisting in direct therapeutic interventions and support, behavior management teams, staff training, assessment and consultation, and clinical services’ supervision of Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Psychology and Psychiatry students from regional universities. Mrs. Cline is a regular presenter and trainer about working with persons with autism spectrum disorder, focusing on the practical partnership of communication, sensory and philosophical approaches.

David L. Holmes, Ed., D., BCFE, BCAP, Lifespan Services, LLC, Chairman/ CEO - Dr. David L. Holmes, Chairman and CEO of Lifespan Services, LLC, is a Board Certified Forensic Examiner in Behavioral Science and Psychology; He is immediate past president and founder of The Eden Family of Services and Chairman of the Panel of Professional Advisors of the Autism Society of America. He serves on the psychology faculty of Princeton University. He has been a featured guest on National Public Radio’s “Talk of the Nation” and on CNN’s “House Call”. Dr. Holmes is a national award winning author of numerous books, book chapters and articles, most notably, Autism through the Lifespan-The Eden Model.

Kelly L. Schoen, M.A.T., Eden Florida, A Division of The Eden Family of Services, Assistant Director of Adult Services - Kelly Schoen is Assistant Director of Adult Services for Eden Florida, located in Fort Myers and Naples. Eden provides ABA-based services for individuals with autism. Current programming includes an infant/toddler program (ages 0 – 3), a school program (ages 3 - 22), clinic services, parent training/support, professional training/consultation services, and adult residential and employment services. Ms. Schoen completed a BS at Ithaca College and a MAT in Special Education at The College of New Jersey. She has over thirteen years experience in Community-based Residential Services and is a Board Certified Associate Behavior Analyst (BCABA).

Joel Smith, Ph.D., Autism Services Association, Inc., Executive Director - Board member/Treasurer of Autism Society of America, 2000-2003; Executive Director, Autism Services Association, Wellesley Hills, MA., 1989-present; National Surveyor Consultant, CARF (Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission), 1986-present; Director of Human Services, Morgan Memorial Goodwill Ind., Boston, MA, 1972-1989; Vocational Expert Consultant, Social Security Administration, 1986-1989; Cantor/Teacher, Cong. Agudat Achim, Leominster, MA 1968-1990; Ph.D., Special Education and Rehabilitation, 1989, Boston College; Ed.M., Counseling Psychology, 1972, Columbia University; Cantors Institute, Jewish Theological Seminary, 1968-72; B.A. Philosophy/Religion/Psychology, 1968, Boston University, B.J. Ed., Hebrew College, Brookline, MA 1968